Hellraiser fans have it pretty rough, considering the significant quality drop we've seen in the series and the direct-to-video installments that were, in some cases, created just to hold onto the film rights. There are some bright spots in the DTV installments, and Hellraiser: Judgment was certainly a step up from Hellraiser: Revelations, but it was still a far cry from where this series first started. Now, it looks like the direct-to-video days are over, with news that David S. Goyer is going to produce and write a “loyal, yet evolved reimagining” of Hellraiser.
Variety reports that Gary Barber’s Spyglass Media Group will "fast track the film for worldwide theatrical distribution" with Keith Levein on board as a producer as well. Any time a reboot is announced, fans are divided, but Gary Barber's relationship with Clive Barker leaves me cautiously optimistic that Barker will help creatively steer the film:
“Clive and I go back more than 30 years together. For generations, his brilliantly twisted and imaginative ‘Hellraiser’ haunted the minds of moviegoers with its searing imagery of Pinhead. David is the perfect storyteller to continue Clive’s vision for a new theatrical version of ‘Hellraiser.’ ”
If this project moves forward at the pace that was mentioned by Variety, we should have much more news to report on in the coming months. What do you think of the idea of Hellraiser returning to the big screen?